ATP Tour’s Asian Leg Begins
The ATP Tour’s Asian leg is set to commence with the Hangzhou Open in China, where the tournament’s draw has just been revealed. Women athletes will kick off their Asian events a bit earlier, as the Korea Open in Seoul starts on September 15. In contrast, the men will begin with their first matches on the comparatively unorthodox date of September 17. Initial competitions in this Asian swing include the ATP 250 tournaments hosted in both Chengdu and Hangzhou.
Defending Champions and Key Matches
The Hangzhou Open, relatively new to the ATP schedule, debuted in 2024 with Marin Cilic claiming the title over local player Zhizhen Zhang in the singles championship. In doubles, the victory went to Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth, who triumphed against Constantin Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens. This time around, both defending champion Cilic and last year’s finalist Zhang will return to compete, though neither is given a seed. Zhang has even acquired a wild card for entry, and he will face compatriot Yunchaokete Bu in a completely Chinese opening match.
The victor of this intriguing first-round clash will then advance to play against a Grand Slam finalist.
Meanwhile, eighth seed Matteo Berrettini is set to make his return in Hangzhou as he squares off against one of the tournament’s qualifiers. Cilic, the reigning champion, will also contend against a qualifier in his first effort and should he win, he aims to meet the second seed, Daniil Medvedev, in the second round. Medvedev is hoping to regain his competitive edge with a fresh coaching team after enjoying a bye in the first round.
Top Seeds and Challenging Matches
The top four seeded players, including the leading seed Andrey Rublev ranked at No. 14 in the world, have been granted a first-round bye. Rublev will face the winner between Aleksandar Kovacevic and Luca Nardi next, a matchup that presents a significant challenge. Similarly, third seed Alexander Bublik will also meet a formidable opponent, whether it’s the former Top 10 player David Goffin or Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic, who recently helped his nation secure a position in the Davis Cup Final 8.
The fourth seed, Corentin Moutet, echoes the trend of challenging second-round encounters, potentially clashing with fellow Frenchman Arthur Cazaux or Italian Matteo Arnaldi. While there are no unseeded players without considerable talent, Sebastian Korda, recognized for his Top 10 capabilities, will aim to showcase his skills against Adam Walton in the first round. Another noteworthy presence in the tournament is wild card Yibing Wu, facing off against the sixth-seeded Adrian Mannarino.
